keeping tax cuts for those making $250,000 a year or less. extending unemployment benefits and it would delay dramatic spending cuts until later next year. the top senate republican recognizes this is a critical time. >> we are engaged in discussions the majority leader and myself and the white house in the hopes that we can come forward as early as sunday and have a recommendation that i can make to my conference and the majority leader can make to o his conference and so we will be working hard to try to see he if we can get there in the next 24 hours. >> among the questions to be answered, what level do you set extending the bush tax cuts? $250,000 income? $500,000 or $750,000. that will all get hammered out this sundby, by this sunday when house lawmakers are set to return. failure or a bad deal could have major economic impact if the markets react poorly. greta? >> greta: mike, thank you. and check your watches because we are only about 73 hours and 55 minutes away from the big event. that is how much time we have before the president, t